BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Western Michigan softball Head Coach Marlee Wilson earned her 50th win during the Hilltopper Classic this weekend as the Broncos split the tournament 2-2.

WMU's win over Butler on Saturday morning was the first milestone win for Wilson since taking over the program in 2024. She reached 50 wins in 113 games, being the third fastest head coach to reach the milestone in the 50th season of the program. Hall of Fame head coach Fran Ebert has been the fastest to 50 wins in the first three seasons of the program, winning 50 games in under 80 games.

The Brown and Gold also earned a win over in-state rival Detroit Mercy at the tournament hosted by Western Kentucky. Western Michigan was not able to knock off the host team in either game for its two losses. Junior outfielder Megan Malartsik led the Broncos with a .615 batting average as she went 8-of-13 at the plate with a double and her first career home run with WMU. In the circle, senior Jadeyn Merrill earned her first win with the Brown and Gold over Butler in a complete game. She also led the team in ERA at 2.00 in 7.0 innings pitched with 13 strikeouts.

Western Michigan began the Hilltopper Classic on Friday afternoon with a big win over the Detroit Mercy Titans. The Broncos had their first shutout of 2026, keeping UDM from scoring with a 1-0 victory. WMU's only run of the game was brought in by Merrill with a sacrifice fly to center field in the third inning, scoring Malartsik. Freshman Ava Geyer pitched a complete game for the Brown and Gold, limiting the Titans to only three hits while striking out a career-high 12 batters. It was Western Michigan's first 10+ strikeout performance by a pitcher since the 2024 season.

In the nightcap against Western Kentucky, the Broncos got within a run of the hosts. But the Hilltoppers took a three run lead in the first inning and never relinquished it over the following six. WMU's only score of the game came from Malartsik on her first home run, scoring herself along with infielder Caitlin Tighe. In the circle the Brown and Gold used three pitchers, freshman Hannah Potts, junior Casey Fazzini, and Merrill. Potts was awarded the loss after the 7-2 result, pitching 2.2 innings, allowing 4 hits, two earned runs, and striking out a batter. 

Western Michigan bounced back the next morning over the Butler Bulldogs in a six inning run-rule win. Merrill pitched a complete game for the Broncos while also adding three hits, two home runs, and five RBIs at the plate. Freshman catcher Liliana Janeczko also had three hits for WMU to led the team in batting. Malartsik, infielder Hannah Herman, infielder Bella Duncan, and outfielder Rylee O'Brien had two hits each as the Brown and Gold racked up a season-high 17 hits.

In the final game of the weekend, Western Michigan led WKU for an inning before the Hilltoppers came back for an 8-4 win. Western Kentucky took a 3-0 lead in the first two innings of the afternoon on five hits. But the Broncos had a big third inning, putting four hits into the field and coming one batter shy of getting through the lineup. Singles from outfielder Parker Ostach and O'Brien to begin the inning let WMU score two quick runs on a fielder's choice. In the next AB, Herman launched a bomb past the left field fence to give the Brown and Gold a 4-3 lead on her first home run of 2026. But over the next three innings the Hilltoppers scored five more runs, handing Western Michigan the 8-4 loss.

The Broncos have the next week off from competition after having their Sunday game against Detroit Mercy canceled due to cold temperatures. WMU returns to action in March at the Cathi Maynard Invitational hosted by Austin Peay. The Brown and Gold's first game back is set for March 6 in a rematch with Butler at 12:30 p.m. EST.